Top 10: Chill Out Movies

There are times in life when every man must learn to kick back and relax. Luckily for you, Hollywood is more than willing to help out. America’s movie-making juggernaut specializes in churning out quality films that require little thinking and even less emotional investment. The industry calls them “chill-out” movies and we’re proud to present our 10 favorite selections within this pleasurable genre. So tune in, turn on and start reading. We’re sure you’ll be entertained.

Number 10

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Description: Few characters know how to chill out quite like “The Dude,” a middle-aged ganja-puffing slacker whose hobbies include bowling, driving around and the occasional acid flashback. That in itself would be enough to carry most films, but The Big Lebowski takes a turn for the deliciously surreal when The Dude becomes involved in a case of mistaken identity that entangles him and his nitwit friends into a kidnapping plot. The movie has developed such a huge cult following since its release in 1998 that it has even inspired its own religious movement called “Dudeism.”

Coolest moment: The ultra-trippy dream sequence in which The Dude, dressed in a tool belt and white dungarees, executes a funky dance to the accompaniment of “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)." The scene features everything we look for in a quality film, including good choreography, dancing girls and Julianne Moore in a dazzling gold bowling-ball bra. What more could you possibly ask for?

Fun fact: For those of you keeping track at home, the word "dude" is used 133 times during the course of the movie.

Number 9

Caddyshack (1980)

Description: There’s nothing like the satisfaction of seeing legendary comedic actors in their prime, and that’s precisely what you get with Caddyshack, a film that features the best ensemble since Jesus Christ rounded up his 12 apostles. This hilarious film about an elitist golf club has since been named the second funniest film of all time by Bravo.

Coolest moment: The scene in which Chevy Chase hits his ball into Bill Murray’s hovel has some of the funniest moments in the entire film. Surprisingly, this sequence wasn’t even in the original script and was added at the insistence of director Harold Ramis after he noticed his two marquee stars didn’t share a scene.

Fun fact: The sound effects used for the golf course’s rascally gopher were the same ones used for the dolphin in the 1960s television series, Flipper.

Number 8

Commando (1985)

Description: When a film has a tagline like “Somewhere... somehow... someone's going to pay!” you know you’re in for two hours of pure, unadulterated carnage. That’s certainly the case with Commando, a no-holds barred action flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a retired commando who must rescue his daughter. The movie may not have been a box-office leader, but it did give way to an entire generation of mindless action flicks like the ones lovingly mocked in The Simpsons’ McBain sequences.

Coolest moment: The film is so full of classic one-liners that it's hard to pick just one, but we love it when Arnold orders a former member of his military unit to “let off some steam” after impaling him with a steam pipe.

Fun fact: The film originally included a brutal scene in which Schwarzenegger beat a man with his recently dismembered stumps. Producers eventually came to their senses and left the sequence on the cutting room floor.